Summer Kiddos

Hello!

The summer of 2014 will probably be one the most profitable summers in my teenage lifetime. I got a job as a nanny! It has been wonderful! And of course, it pays well too!

The kids that I look after used to be the ones that my mom looked after when they were young. Now the two kids are school age and of course didn’t need my mom anymore because of the regular school schedule they acquired. However, I don’t know of you noticed, but in the summer kids don’t go to school. And thus my job was created!

There’s one boy, Grant, and one girl, Jessica. They are both so darn cute! Grant will be going into the 4^th grade and Jessica will be going into 6^th grade! Although I must say that my whole purpose of looking after them is to take them to fun places for the summer and make sure that they don’t eat cookies all day. They could stay home alone but all day would cause some problems in the long run. Kids need some stability.

Kids need to be entertained and that’s a job in itself. They need to play and be active because some kids will sit on the couch all day and watch TV or play video games (which has happened before).

With that said, I’ve thought of some fun things to do when these kiddos! Some have been completed already this summer; others are in the planning process.

-       Have a Picnic – complete with the blanket and sandwiches. Also bring fruit for a healthy side. Picnics are great because you’re basically packing the kids a lunch and kind of force them to eat whatever you brought or let them starve. It’s a great way to make kids try something new and eat something healthy. Also, another important component of picnics is the active part. When I went with the kiddos, we al brought along baseball mitts and played catch!

Almost impossible to catch a good picture of both of them!

-       Go ice-skating – on a scorching hot day rent some skates and cool off! Ice rinks do keep their facilities pretty cold so it would be nice to bring a sweater. It will be wonderful to feel that cool air amongst all that summer sweat. Of course, make sure to check the times for public skate for your local ice area because they only let you skate during those specified times. Another thing is to take them to Stick and Puck. Play a little hockey to keep them entertained. Of course, kids under 18 must wear full gear and be accompanied by an adult. So if you meet the requirements, take the ice!

-       Take the dog to a dog park- on a nice cool day to get not only the kids moving but also the pup. There are many dog parks around the country just look one up on the Internet! When I was searching for a park for my dog I wound the site BringFido.com. The site allows you to search and find all dog friendly places around your neighborhood, from dog parks to restaurants to groomers, a true dog’s paradise. Some parks require that you buy a permit beforehand. Check with the parks website to make sure!

-       Go to the Zoo- I live in the Chicago area and there are two Zoos that are both wonderful: Lincoln Park zoo in downtown Chicago and Brookfield zoo that’s closer to home. Lincoln park zoo is actually free admission so that’s a huge plus. Most zoos also have special summer events. I know that Brookfield zoo this summer has “summer lights” where it’s all lit up pretty lights at night. There are also zoo camps for your little zookeeper.

-       Go to the movies – This one of course is almost a given. On a rainy day or on a lazy day, movies fit all kids of wants and desires. A little trick I found was that if you tell Siri on the iPhone “Let’s go see a movie” she will automatically pull up all the movies currently in theaters and then show times for the nearest theater.  Such an easy tool to search for movies. I also know that Seven bridges movie theater by my house has $5 movies on Tuesdays. Check for specials near you!

-       Go bowling – another rainy day idea. I know that my kiddos parents found some coupons for a bowling alley nearby that will give the kids two games free games or something like that.  But of course we must rent the shoes so that’s where they get ya. But it’s all going to be worth it. One game of bowling lasts about an hour or so. Of course do refrain from buying so much food there. Not only does it add up, it’s also not so healthy for you.

-       Go mini-golfing- the game of golf that requires little skill but provides lots of fun! The mini-golf place I go to has a driving range next to it so that’s also an option. I think they may also have a course but kids don’t find that exciting. So mini-golf is the perfect thing! The size fits their cute little stature and it’s fun! Also, they have colorful golf balls, if that persuades anyone.

The neighbors wanted to join in on the fun!

-       Go the pool – this one is also a given but its always a classic! The pool the kids go to has public swim everyday from 11 to evening times. Of course, it closes early for meets and the mornings are reserved for lessons. But during the peak hours of a hot day go on and take a dip! Remember to apply sunscreen! The kiddos have season passes with their parents and they let me in along with that but there are also daily rates for those one timers. Another ideas for the kiddos, is going to a water park. Although this may be a little pricier but it’s a day full of water and sun!

a  Canvas painting - This one is a special one for your little artist. The canvas pictured below was $7.99 at Michael's. If you go on their site, there are some good coupons for 50% off! We used paint that I already had from before, but otherwise one little bottle is about $.49-$1.99. You can also look up some good ideas on the internet (such as Pintrest.com). Of course, you can paint some other craft! The world is your canvas!

Look at that focus!

The final product with a proud artist.

I will continue to add to this list as new ideas come by. Feel free to share your activities and ideas as well! Have a great summer!

-Julija